Fluid dispensing gun



April 2o, 1943. M. Hmm

FLUID DISPENS ING GUN 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March' 2, 1940 Llull Iw| l f n iv u.. u. A in j( ..1 u. .3. nik. un r: Il.. u. 1;. kif

da ,e

April zo, 1943.

M. HARRIS 2,317,270

FLUID DISPENSING GUN I i AFiled March 2, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 M. HARRIS FLUID DISPENS ING GUN Filed March 2, 1940 2 3 .S ,a j 2 1 fm, Z a @i i@ 1 ,Q l|\\ d W, H m` n. AMK Q rv l a Wil/lh KM M April zo, 1943.

Patented Apr. 20, 1943 FLUID DISPENSING GUN Mark Harris, Birmingham, Mich., assigner to Stewart-Warner Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Virginia Application March 2, 1940, Serial No. 321,844

7 Claims.

My invention pertains to iiuid dispensing guns of the type requiring no external source of uid under high pressure, but which includes a selfcontained fluid reservoir and manually operated means for ejecting the fluid at high pressures.

My device is useful for lubricating machinery fitted with lubricant-receiving fittings adapted to cooperate with the gun which I am about to describe, especially where such machinery is not normally or only occasionally accessible to lubrication from power operated high pressure lubricant guns.

My uid dispensing gun is also useful for dispensing fluids such as hand lotions, cold cream, and various other fluid preparations, especially if they be of a viscous or semi-solid nature.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a small self-contained manually operated uid dispensing gun which may be applied in situations not accessible to power operated dispensing means.

Another object of my invention is to provide a manually operated uid dispensing gun provided with a self-'contained uid reservoir.

Another object'of my invention is to provide manually operated means for producing exceedingly high fluid pressures at the lubricant ttings of bearings requiring this type of lubrication.

Another object of my invention is to provide manually operated fluid dispensing means having a detachable uid reservoir which may be removed when empty and replaced by a new full reservoir.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent upon reading the following description thereof, taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. l'is an elevation of a manually operated fluid dispensing gun according to my invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of one of the replaceable reservoirs for use with my uid dispensing gull;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through my fluid dispensing gun when the reservoir thereof is filled with lubricant;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the gun partially discharged of its content of lubriy head 20.

Fig. 6 is a view taken along the line E--B of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section through a iluid dispensing gun incorporating a modied form of fluid reservoir when filled;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, showing the reservoir partially emptied; and Y Fig. 9 is an enlarged section through a corner of the bottom of the reservoir.

In all the figures, like reference numerals have been applied to similar parts. Y

A iiuid dispensing gun according to my invention, adapted for dispensing lubricant, consists of a lubricant reservoir Ill and a pressure The lubricant reservoir I0 comprises an ordinary inexpensive tin can attractively decorated upon the outside by a pleasing label II preferably designed to convey useful information to the prospective purchaser and which, when full and while yet unattached to the pressure head 20, is provided with an ordinary friction cap I3 which prevents loss of the contents of the can. A protruding annular ring I2 formed near the upper rim of the can serves both to lend rigidity to the relatively light metal container and to provide a seat for the edge of the cap I 3 or for the edge of the pressure head 20. l

The reservoir I0 is lined with an impervious air-tight Cellophane sack I5 coextensive with the reservoir and liermetically sealed to the walls thereof near the upper inside rim of the, reser- -voir Vby means of an application I4 of rubber cement or some like effective impervious adhesive. The Cellophane" sack I5 is filled with a suitable lubricant, preferably of the solidified oil type, which is free flowing under pressure, but not liquid, therebyy avoiding loss while the can is being attached to the pressure head, and

lat other times when the cap is removed. The

bottom I Ii of the can isprovided with a small pin hole II communicating with the slight air space between the sack I5 andthe inner walls of the reservoir. The function of this vent will become apparent later.

The pressure head frictionally engaging the lubricant reservoir comprises agenerally conical spun or drawn metal dome?! terminating. in-,a narrow cylinder 22 andy provided with a relatively short cylindrical base 23 which frictionally engages the topV of the` reservoir IU whenthe cap I3 thereof is removed. Air-tight frictional engagement of ther reservoir with the pressure head is aided by an inner annular ring 24 formed around the pressure head at the junction of the complete withdrawal of the piston 33 from the- Y cylinder 22. Y under the influence of a spring 34 seating upon an arch-shaped metal supportV 35 and reacting against a shoulder 35 formed by a widening of l,

the bore 3 I.

This piston is urged outwardly The ends of the arch-shaped support 35 are t,

braced against the previously described inner annular ring 24. The arched support 35 also mounts a plunger 3B centrally located within the spring 34 and fastened to the support 35 by meansof'its peened over reduced portion 40 passing through a hole 4I atthe vertex of the arched support 35. The'diameter of the plunger 38 is very precisely determined to fit withinthe bore 3| and to serve as a piston for'expelling lubricant accumulated within the bore through the narrow orifice 42 and past the ball check valve 43 located in the'valve seat 44. The ball 43 Vis prevented from leaving` the 'seat V44 by tnestaked edgesas thereof. The

outer endofthe piston 30 is provided with the usual hemispherical seat 46, which cooperates with most cf the standardlubricant fittings or nipples now fitted to the bearings of variousl maf chineryrand vehiclesf f I Itis to be noted that when the piston 30 protrudes` from cylinder 22 to its maximum extent, as show nin Fig. 3, the end of plunger 38 is com'- pletely withdrawn from the bore 3 I into whichit fits anduisgat apoint some slight distance below theshoulder- Bl inorderto allow lubricant to flow Y The concave seat 4,6 of the piston 30 effectively lseats` upon the head 5I of a' standard lubricating ttingfi ornipple as shown in Fig. 4. Because i the seat 46 is spherical and because the upper edge of the nipplel head 5| is perfectly circular,

' leakproof engagement at varying angles of application of the lubricant gun to the nipple is Ymaintained. LubricantY flows past 'the ball valve 43 retained invalve seat by peened over edges 45 thereof (Fig. 6), intor the narrow'bore 52 of the nipple 5 0, and from. thence-into the bearing being lubricated. Y.

Y My invention is applied tolubricating bearings provided with standard lubricant fittings in the QHOWlgfmnnel. A'fresh can orf-reservoir Ill of' solidified lubricant of the proper quality and viscostytis selected'from the stock of such cansY handkin theydirectionbfthe lubricant fitting, t thereby` forcing the piston 30 'into the cylinder ZZ'againstthe influence offspring 34. v

I shall for Vthe moment assume sure head and the bore 3lof the lubricating gun are already filled with grease. Upon forcing the piston 3|) into the cylinder 22, the plunger 38 enters the bore 3| and forces the lubricant contained therein past the ball valve 43 into the bearing in the manner described. When the manual pressure applied to the gun is relaxed, the piston 39 is returned from within the cylinder 22 and the plunger 38 is withdrawn from the bore 3| under the influence of spring 34. This creates a slight vacuum within the pressure head 20 and the bore 3| causing the ball valve 43 to close, being drawn against the seat 44, thus preventing lubricant or air from being returned into the pressure head. The vacuum within the pressure head induces grease from within the Cellophane sack I5 in the reservoir I9 to iiow into the pressure head, as a result of the pressure of the air around the sack I5, which causes the sack to collapse as shown in Fig. 4.

Air pressure around the sack I5 is maintained by the small orifice or pin hole I1 in the bottom I6 of the reservoir I0. The vacuumV resulting from the operation of the pump structure within the pressure headV 2i) is maintained as a result of the careful sealing of the sack I5 to the upper rim of the reservoir by a leakproof adhesive I4. It isalso necessary to insure an air-tight` frictional contact between the cylindrical base 23 of the pressure head and the upper rim ofv therese'r-l l quantity of lubricant WithinV the bore' 3| into the that tir pi-est bearing, and each return stroke of the gun withdrawing an equal quantity of lubricant fromv the Y reservoir I0 to replace the quantity ejected.

When the lubricant within the reservoir I0 has been ejectedJ the empty can can be discarded and the pressure head 20 may then be fittedito afresh can of lubricant. This feature makes'myfluid dispensing gun very economical to operate,` because the pressure head can be used over and over again, with successive cans of uid. The'gun is', nevertheless, quite inexpensive initself as compared withY the lubricant dispensing guns now in common use. Thepressure head` may be' used' with various qualities and grades of lubricant contained in separate cans appropriately designated in order to distinguish their content. The cans need not be ofi the same size, but may be long or short; although necessarily of the same diameter.

A leakage of air past the adhesive seal I4'o past the friction joint between the reservoir I0 and theV pressure head 2'!!V does not destroy -the effectiveness of the gun, because although the vvacuum resulting fromthe pumping actionrmay beimpaireddue to ,leakage of theair, it is` quite possible to feed fluid from the reservoir: into the pressure head by jarring or striking the reservoir with the hand. It is preferable and more convenient, however, vto depend upon ther suctionnormally produced when the gun is in use andito that end it is desirable tovmaintain an air-tight seal, and an unobstructed opening in the bottom of the reservoir. Y

VVarious modifications of my invention are pos` sible. One such modification is depicted in Figs. 7, 8Vand 9. In this modification the'iiuid inthe reservoir' I0 is not contained within the collapsible sack I5, but is in direct contact with the sides of the can I I. The sack I5, which may be`r of Cellophane orof a resilient' material such' as rubber, if the fluid to be used does not react detrimentall'y upon the rubber, is compactly folded, and partially contracted in the case of rubber, in the bottom I6 of the reservoir IIJ.

As uid is pumped out of the reservoir I0, air enters through the vent I'I and helps to expel the fluid by exerting a pressure against the folded Cellophane sack I5 or against a rubber membrane, if such be employed. The sack I5 is progressively expanded as fluid is withdrawn from the reservoir IIJ.

The edges of the sack or membrane I5 may be attached to the sides of the reservoir near the bottom thereof by means of adhesive, or preierably by a more secure method of attachment which consists of doubling over the edge of the sack I5 to form a folded edge I5a, which folded edge is frictionally held between the flange Ia and the bottom IB and the sides of the reservoir I0.

Various other modifications of my invention will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and I do not wish to be conned to the particular embodiment of my invention herein described, but only by the following claims.

I claim:

l. A manually operable fluid dispensing gun comprising a fluid reservoir, a collapsible impervious sack whose edges are fastened to the sides of the reservoir, a pressure head whose base is adapted to engage the rim of said reservoir, said pressure head terminating in a tubular extension, a nozzle slidable in said tubular extension, said nozzle also being provided with a ball check valve, resilient means urging said nozzle to slide out of said tubular extension, and a plunger held stationary with respect to the pressure head, the end of the plunger nearest the nozzle being normally spaced from the end of the nozzle to allow the access of fluid to the bore of the nozzle, but adapted to enter into and to create pressure within said bore when the nozzle is forced back into the tubular extension.

2. A manually operable gun for dispensing viscous and semi-solid material comprising a pressure head, a separable container of generally cylindrical shape and having an open end of substantially the same cross section as that of the main part of said container, said open end being closed by said pressure head and forming a leakprocf seal therewith, a collapsible, im-

pervious sack having edges fastened to the side of said container adjacent said open end, pump,- ing means carried by said pressure head and functioning to withdraw material from said container by creating a suction therein, means for admitting atmospheric pressure to the outside of said sack, said sack being of sufficient strength to withstand a pressure diierential adequate to move vicsous or semi-solid material from said container to said pumping means for all positions of said gun, said pumping means being operable in response to force exerted on said container toward a part engaged by said pressure head.

3. A manually operable gun for dispensing viscous and semi-solid material comprising a pressure head, a separable container of generally cylindrical shape and having an open end of substantially the same cross section as that of the main part of said container, said open end being closed by said pressure head and forming a leakprooi seal therewith, a collapsible, impervious sack having edges fastened to the side of said container adjacent said open end, pumping means carried by said pressure head and functioning to withdraw material from said container by creating a suction therein, said container being constructed to admit atmospheric pressure to the outside of said sack, said sack being of sufficient strength to withstand a pressure differential adequate to move viscous or semisolid material from said container to said pumping means for all positions of said gun, and a nozzle through which said material is discharged, said pumping means being operable in response to force exerted on said container toward a part engaged by said nozzle.

4. A manually operable gun for dispensing viscous and semi-solid lubricant comprising a pressure head, a separable container of generally cylindrical shape and having an open end of substantially the same cross section as that of the main part of said containen-said open end being closed by said pressure head and forming a leakproof seal therewith, a collapsible, impervious sack having edges fastened to the side of said container adjacent said open end, pumping means carried by said pressure head and functioning to withdraw material from said container by creating a suction therein, said pumping means including a part rigid with said head and a second part reciprocable relative to said first part, a nozzle movable with said reciprocable part and adapted to make a lubricant-tight seal with a lubricant receiving fitting, vent means for admitting atmospheric pressure to the outside of said sack, said sack being of sufficient strength to withstand a pressure differential adequate to move viscous or semi-solid material from said container to said pumping means for all positions of said gun, said pumping means being operable in response to force exerted on said container toward a fitting engaged by said nozzle.

5. A reservoir adapted to be attached to a pressure head containing pumping means for Withdrawing material from said reservoir and comprising a rigid container having a closed bottom, substantially straight sides, and an open top of approximately the same cross section as the main part of said container, and a flexible, impervious sack having its edges hermetically sealed to the inside walls of said container adjacent the said open top, said container having a vent for admitting air between said container and said sack, said sack being of suilicient strength to withstand a pressure diierential adequate to move Viscous or semi-solid materials from said container for al1 positions thereof.

6. A uid reservoir adapted for attachment to a pressure head having pumping means for withdrawing the contents of said reservoir and comprising a substantially rigid cylindrical container having a closed bottom and an open top, the periphery of the container adjacent the top thereof being adapted to receive and frictionally to retain a pressure head, and a ilexible, impervious sack whose edges are hermetically sealed to the inside of the rigid container adjacent said open top, said ilexible sack being adapted to expel the contents thereof when the pressure in the space between the ilexible sack and the rigid container becomes greater than the pressure within the iiexible sack, said sack being suiiiciently strong to withstand a differential pressure great enough to expel from said sack a viscous or semi-solid material against the force of gravity acting thereon, and said rigid container having a vent for admitting air to the space between the flexible sack and the rigid container.

7, A manually operable gun for dispensing visside expgsed toV the material in said iniaiiiei. means for admitting atmospheric pressure to the other side of said sack, s ad sack being of cient strength to withstand a pressure dierential adequate to move Viscous or semi-,solid material from said container to said pumping means for all positions 0f said gun, said pumping means being operable in response to 4force exerted on said conf tainer toward a part engaged by said pressure 10 head.

MARK HARRIS 

